Establishing Efficacy of an Inpatient Intervention and Phone App to Reduce Suicide Risk: As Safe As Possible (ASAP II) Study
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Dates: 11/1/2018-10/31/2022
The move from inpatient care to outpatient care had been a very risky time for teens who struggled with suicidal thoughts or actions. At the time, there were no proven treatments to help teens stay safe during this transition. To address this problem, researchers created a brief, three‑hour program called ASAP (As Safe As Possible) for teens who had been hospitalized because of suicide risk. ASAP taught teens how to make a safety plan, manage strong emotions, and handle distress, and they also received one or two follow‑up phone calls after discharge. The team added a smartphone app called BRITE, which helped teens practice emotion‑regulation skills each day and use a personalized safety plan.
In an early study with 65 teens, those who received ASAP and BRITE were less likely to attempt suicide in the six months after leaving the hospital, especially teens who had attempted suicide in the past. The more teens used the BRITE app, the more their suicidal thoughts and emotional struggles decreased. Teens and families gave very positive feedback, and many eligible teens chose to take part, suggesting these tools could be used widely. Building on this first study, the researchers planned a larger trial with 240 teens at two sites to test ASAP and BRITE separately and together. They aimed to learn which parts of the program worked best, how the treatments created change, and which approach was most cost‑effective for real‑world use.
Selected Primary Outcome Paper:
- PubMed - Bridging Gaps in Care Following Hospitalization for Suicidal Adolescents: As Safe As Possible (ASAP) and BRITE App